Good Morning!
I least I think it is good (I got signora‘d twice yesterday), and I am pretty sure it is morning (jet lag is a b).
I am blaming getting called signora on lack of sleep and extensive plane travel. Hopefully the rest of May will be full of “signorina” and sunshine.
While we had a few unseasonably warm days in April, May is off to a cool start. However, May is one of my favorite months in Rome because of the reasonable temperatures and manageable crowds.
May 2016 in Rome seems to be all about the music, with two major festivals and full lineups at regular venues like Quirinetta.
Here’s what is on in May 2016 in Rome:
1 May – 5 June: The Jewish Catacombs that are normally closed to the public will open through early June. The frescoed ancient tombs are scrawled with hebrew, Greek and Latin, which tells the story of the families from the 2nd and 3rd century who were buried here. The extraordinary opening has been done to coincide with the Pope’s Jubilee year.
2-15 May: Tennis fans can take in all the matches at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia. Major international players will hit the courts at Foro Italia for the two-week tournament.
4 May: If electronica is more your vibe, the tennis tournament is actually extended into Ballroom – a music and art event that runs through 15 May. The standout lineup includes Sven Väth, whose show will take place on the 4th. More information on Ballroom is available here.
2-6 May: Gambero Rosso is hosting a photography exhibit by young artists and the chefs of tomorrow – celebrating food through the eyes of kiddies. Incontri is on at the Città del gusto di Roma, before moving on to Naples and Torino.
5-15 May: The Gelato Festival 2016 stops in Rome for 10 days at the Pincio Terrace. You can enjoy the gelato along with a view! More information is here.
7 May: Mercato Testaccio moved to a new location a few years ago. While the address was new to the market, it is actually an ancient area, with archeological remains slightly visible. On 7 May, the market will host an Open Day with visits down to the normally inaccessible archeological site until 8 pm. There will also be live music, DJs, and late eating/shopping until midnight.
7-8 May: The Città dell’Altra Economia is turning 3 and throwing a party. Just a few steps from the market, if you plan to go to the event above, CAE is a lovely space that hosts food, cultural, music and art shows regularly.
12-15 May: The Spring Beer Festival returns to the Città dell’altra economia. Entrance is free and 30 cl pours will cost you one token – or €3.50. You will be able to balance out the boozing with burgers and other street food stalls onsite. (Hopefully the weather will cooperate!)
13-15 May: The 17th edition of Race for the Cure will take over Rome.
14 May: Italianism, a cultural conference, will host a series of presentations on ‘Made by Italians.’ Independent Italian artists, ranging from designers to street artists and textile experts, will be on hand to discuss the concept of creativity and Italianism.
15 May: The Ex-Caserma Guido Reni has a full schedule and will also host a vintage market on the 15th with more than 100 booths of one-of-a-kind designs.
15 May: To celebrate Pentecost, rose petals will be dropped from the oculus of the Pantheon following 10:30 mass. The raining roses will be released around noon.
19 May: The MAXXI opens its doors for Spring Attitude, for a night of “futuristic deviations of pop and unconventional rock” music. The Thursday evening show is the first of many over the weekend, but the only one that you can catch at Rome’s modern art museum. Tickets are available at the MAXXI.
20-21 May: Cortili Aperti returns to Rome this weekend, offering you a sneak peek into some of the beautiful courtyards normally closed to the public. 26 such courtyards in historic palazzi around the city will be open for free from 10 am to 7 pm. For the list (in Italian) see here.
21 May: For Notte dei Musei 11 Roman museums, such as Musei Capitolini and Macro Testaccio. The musems will be open from 8 pm to 2 am, offering entrance for just €1.
22 May: Want to get out of the city and eat? Head to Rocca di Botte for an annual sagra degli gnocchi taking place from 1 pm in Piazza San Pietro Apostolo.
25 – 29 May: The Food Truck Fest returns, this time taking place in Villa Borghese’s Piazza di Siena. With free entry, you can order a la carte from your favorite street food vendors from 11 am to 9 pm each day.
27-29 May: For late night street food, Eataly is also hosting an event this weekend. From 5 pm to 2 am on Friday and Saturday, and noon to 10 pm Sunday, you can find treats from Tricolore, La Piadina, ZUM tiramisu and more. 1 token is €2, and prices are based on the number of tokens needed for your favorite menu item.
**More to come! I really am jet lagged…
